By Holly Riddle
Currently celebrating its 70th year in business, Leonard S. Fiore, Inc. (LSF) has helped build the Happy Valley we know today. You can’t stroll through downtown State College and not see a structure the company is responsible for. LSF has completed more than four hundred projects for Penn State alone (out of LSF’s thousands overall).
Chief operating officer Pat Irwin credits LSF’s success and longevity to a few factors, among them being the company’s roots as a family business. The company’s namesake was Irwin’s grandfather and Irwin himself has been involved in the company for multiple decades.
“The commitment to our values helps solidify, when you hit obstacles or challenges, that you’re invested at a deeper level,” Irwin said.
“These are third spaces within the community where people connect with each other,” described Erin Meitzler, vice president of pursuits, “and that means something.”
That purpose as builders first extends to how LSF treats its employees (with work-life balance measures in place, and ample career growth opportunities), as well as the broader community, and, looking back at the company’s history, its LSF’s community impact that stands out as a particular point of pride. LSF has brought numerous community landmarks to life, places that many of us visit and enjoy on a regular basis, such as Schlow Library, Memorial Field and Penn State Arboretum.
“These are third spaces within the community where people connect with each other,” described Erin Meitzler, vice president of pursuits, “and that means something.”
Most recently, LSF renovated the new Nittany Lion Inn, a $30 million project that was very personal for the team, but, admittedly came with a bit of pressure. After the property sat dormant for multiple years, Penn State alumni and the broader Happy Valley community were eager to see how — and if — LSF could retain the historic property’s legacy while bringing it into the modern era.
“[The Nittany Lion Inn] is in my top five projects that I’ve completed in my career, because of how connected I feel to it as an alumni and community member, but also because it was such a challenging delivery,” Meitzler shared.
LSF completed the renovation in under a year, knowing the hotel had to be ready to go for the 2024 football season. Scholar Hotels, the property owner, is a repeat client for LSF. LSF completed several high-profile projects in State College, including the Fraser Center and Scholar State College, for the Scholar team.
“It was an extremely prominent project, with a ton of attention, and we really needed to deliver for our client and for the community,” Meitzler added. “The team’s expertise really made the outcome possible. They had to have a unique combination of the right experience and a well-crafted approach, but enough flexibility… to change the plan as needed to produce results.”
As any Happy Valley local or frequent visitor knows, though, it’s not just The Nittany Lion Inn that’s changed recently in downtown State College. Over the last few years, downtown has changed dramatically, and LSF has been heavily involved.
This construction, though, according to LSF, is essential for the growth and vitality of the region. As such, Irwin and Meitzler said, for each project, LSF focuses on delivering the highest quality construction, ensuring that the final product serves the community for years to come; providing a positive experience for both clients and the public throughout the construction process; and taking great care to minimize the impact of construction on the surrounding area through thoughtful planning and efficient execution.
As LSF has helped the community grow over the last seven decades, so has the community throughout both Happy Valley and the broader Alleghenies and mid-Atlantic regions helped LSF grow, too. Irwin credits Penn State, with its leading construction engineering programs and OPP’s commitment to all aspects of high-quality construction, as an excellent resource helping the LSF team grow both in skills and size.
“What’s important as we grow is making sure we maintain our foundation of construction excellence. We can’t lose that core value.”
Now, LSF is on a 22% year-over-year growth trajectory, with that growth carefully guided by a strategic plan. The construction industry can be unpredictable. LSF’s reliable project outcomes and high-value model have built lasting client relationships. More than 80% of LSF’s work is tied to repeat business partners.
As Irwin said, “We’re becoming more intentional about what we do. We’re always trying to become better builders.”
Meitzler added, “This type of intentional growth requires a ton of discipline. What’s important as we grow is making sure we maintain our foundation of construction excellence. We can’t lose that core value.”
Holly Riddle is a freelance lifestyle and business journalist. She can be reached at holly.ridd@gmail.com.
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